Car heater



J. ASKIN CAR HEATER May 2, 1933.

Filed Jan. 8; 1931 Patented May 2 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOSEPH ASKIN, 0F BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO FEDIDERS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC., OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK CAR HEATER Application filed January 8, 1931. Serial N0. 507,501.

This invention relates to heaters adapted to be used on motor vehicles, such as automobiles and boats, and particularly to such thereof.

This invention comprehends an improved device having the water of the engine cooling system as its heating medium, which is adapted to effect a circulation and heating of air throughout the vehicle body.

The invention also has reference to a construction wherein the actuating motor of the impeller means may be disposed within the confines of the heating radiator. The core of the latter may be of the type having a plurality of independent and, substantially vertical water passages extending from the top to the bottom thereof. In order to allow communication through such passages as may lie above and below the inset motor, a novel mounting for the motor has been devised which aifords a passage about the motor for connecting such passages.

Other features of the invention are the inclusion-of a mechanical impelling device for efi'ecting the circulation of the heated air, and thermostatic means for controlling the operation of the impelling device. 1

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent through theperusal of Q the following description of a typical embodiment of the principles of the invention, reference being made to the following drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is-a perspective view showing the improved heating element mounted upon the dashboard of a motor vehicle, parts of the latter being broken away.

Fig. 2 is a central vertical cross-sectional view through the complete heating device assembly.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view of the heating and impelling units of the assembly shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the portion of the heating unit which serves to support the impelling unit.

Fig. 5 is a rear elevational view of the motor of the impelling unit showing the thermostatic control means mounted thereupon.

As shown in Fig. 1 the heating element 10 is mounted upon the dashboard 11 which partitions the seating compartment 12 from the compartment containing the internal combustion unit.13. The latter may be of conventional design, having a water-jacket 14 surrounding the cylinders. A conduit 15 connects the water-jacket to the upper portion of a water-cooling radiator 16, and a conduit 17 connects the lower portion of the radiator 16 to the water-jacket allowing Water in the jacket to be cooled by circulation through the radiator. A motor driven pump 18 may be disposed along the conduit 17 to effect a positive circulation of the cooling water. Inlet and outlet conduits, 19 and 21, may be attached respectively to an upper portion of the jacket 14 and a portion of the circulatory system between the radiator and conduit, and may extend through the dashboard 11 to the heating unit 10.

The latter includes a heating element or core 22 comprising an upper Water tank 23, a lower water tank 24, and a plurality of water-tube defining sections disposed between and connecting the water tanks. The lateral sections, 25 and 26, preferably comprise a plurality of juxtaposed strips, each of which is deformed to provide continuous water passages from the upper to the lower tank, and a plurality of air passages extending from the inner face 27 to the outer face 28 of the core.

The upper and lower intermediate sections, 29 and 31 respectively, may be of the same formation as the sections 25 and 26, and communicate respectively, with the upper and lower water tanks. As shown in Fig. 3, the lower and upper ends of the sections 29 and 31 are spaced to provide a substantially cubical space within the confines of the sections 25, 26, 29 and 31. A pair of plates, 32 and 33 connected by a tubular member '34 which may be secured in any suitable manner to the flanged apertures of the plates, are disposed in the space between the sections, the plate flanges 36 abutting the edge portions of the sections and preferably soldered thereto. A passage is, there? bein by, ormed between the sectlons 25 and 26' and the tubular member 34, which connects the sections 29 and 31 for permitting com munication through the water passages of the sections 29 and 31 between the upper and lower water tanks.

The latter are connected, respectively, to the inlet and outlet conduits, 19 and 21, as is depicted in Fig. 2 of the drawing. A pair of side plates 37 are secured along the side edges of the sections 25 and 26, and may have lateral extensions 38 for abutment with the dashboard 11 for supporting the core with its inner face spaced from the dashboard. The

air impelling unit may comprise an electric motor 39 which may be disposed within thetubular member 34, and a plurality of impeller blades 40 mounted on the motor shaft. The impeller blades lie adjacent the outer surface 28 of the coreand are adapted, upon rotation by the motor 39, to draw air from the vehicle interior through the space between the dashboard and the core, throu h the air passages of thecore, and to force t e air outward into the car interior.

A casing or hood 41 is disposed over the core and impeller assemblies and is provided with a central screen or grill 42, in alignment with the impeller, which while permitting of the passage of air from the heating unit, will prevent movement of objects, or portions of a human anatomy into contact with the impeller blades. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the hood proper is spaced from the dashboard to allow the circulation of air between the heating unit and the dashboard, and is supported by forward extending flanges 43 which overlie the side plate flanges 38 and which may together with the latter be secured to the dashboard 11 by bolts or other fasteners 44.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the motor 39 is supported within the tubular member 34 by brackets 45 which may be secured to the tubular member or formed integrally therewith. Space is provided between the motor and the tubular member to permit of the passa e of air from the space between the core an the dashboard over the motor by the action of the impeller. A thermostatic control unit is mounted upon the forward face of the motor, and is interposed in the electric actuating circuit of the motor to cause the motor to be automatically stopped when the temperature of the air within the vehicle reaches a predetermined degree. The thermostatic control unit may comprise a bi-metallic member 46 of convolute form, and electrically connected to one terminal '47 of the motor, and a contact member 48 which may be connected to one lead of the motor actuating circuit. The

other terminal 49 of the motor may be connected to the other lead of the circuit.

.energy conducted through the actuating circuit, the bi-metallic element contacting the member 48 to close the circuit, and will rotate the impelling blades to draw air from the interior of the vehicle body about the motor 39 and through the air passages of the core, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2. When the air within the interior of the car has been heated, by circulation through the core passages, to a predetermined degree it will upon re-circulation pass the motor and thermostatic control unit and heat the element 46 sufiiciently to cause the convolutions of the latter to be contracted, thereby breaking the contact between the member 41 and the contact 46, opening the motor circuit, and discontinuing the action of the motor and impeller. A thermostatically controlled valve 50 may be installed in the conduit 15 between the engine and the engine cooling radiator to automatically prevent cooling of the water within the jacket 14 to a temperature lower than that desired for circulation through the heating unit. Such a valve will also serve to decrease the time required, after starting the engine, to raise the temperature of the heater to a satisfactory degree.

In orderto positively conduct an a preciable volume of heated air over the 17511016 windshield 51, a conduit 52 is provided having an enlarged discharge opening 53 adjacent the bottom inner surface of the windshield, and an inlet end 54 attached to a nipple 55 which opens into the path of discharge from the impeller and which may be attached to or formed integrally with the hood 41.

By this construction the air to be heated is drawn entirely from within the vehicle interior is forced through the heating element; and is expelled again into the car interior; so that no extraneous matter, such as dust,

or noxious fumes, may be drawn into the car interior from the engine compartment or the outside atmosphere. The heated air discharged against the windshield for melting frozen moisture thereon passes into the car interior and is again returned for recirculation by the heating element. It will be understood that the thermostatic control unit is positioned forward of the passage between the motor and the tubular member 34, in such manner that the air passing by it will reflect the degree of temperature within the vehicle interior and may thus function to cut out the actuation of the impeller when that temperature has reached a predetermined degree. It will further be understood that the plates 32 and the tubular member 34 define with the core sections 25 and 26 apassage for heating water from the section 29 to the a; as,

neoaosa It will still further be understood that thedevice herein described and illustrated is merely exemplary-oi the principles of the invention which may be employed in other structural embodiments, and it is, therefore, intended that the invention be considered of scope commensurate with the appended claims. a

What is claimed is: i i

1. An air heating and circulating device comprising a pair of spaced sections, each having a plurality of water passages and a plurality of air passages, members connecting said spaced sections and defining a cavity between said sections, plates extending between said members and said sections, a tubular member of smaller cross section than the area of either of said plates connecting said plates, the water passages oi. one of said sections communicatin with the water passages of the other one oi said sections through a passage defined by said sections, plates, members, and tubular member, and air-circulating means associated with the afore.

mentioned. elements, a portion of said aircirculating means being disposed within said tubular member.

'2. An air heating and circulating device comprising a pair of water containers, a pair of spaced sections each joined to each of said containers, each of said sections having a plurality of air passages extending theregthrough and a plurality ot water passages 1n communication with each of said containers, and means extending between said sections for supporting a motor within the confines of said containers and said sections, and air impeller means operable by said motor adjacent one face of said sections.

3. An air heatin and circulating device comprising a pair 0 water containers, a pair of spaced sect1ons each joined to each of said containers, each of sald sections having a plurality of air passages extendin from one face to an opposite face of said evice and a plurality of water passages in co unicetion with each of sa d containers, a second pair of spaced sections, each of the latter lying between said first pair of sections and being joined to one of said containers, each of said second pair of sections having aplurality of air passages extendin from one face to an opposite aceof said evice and a plurality of water passages in communication with the container to w ich it is joined, and

members extending between said pairs of sections along the opposite faces of said device for providing a chamber communicating with the water passages of said second pair of sections, a motor within said chambeigund an impeller operable by said motor to rein culate air through said air pamages.

4. An air heatin and circulating device comprising a pair 0 spaced sectionseach havmg a plurality of air passages extending from one to an opposite face of the device and a plurality of water passages, members extending between said sections for providing a chamber communicating with the water passages of both sections, a motor within said chamber, and an impeller operable by said motor to circulate air through said air pa sages, the minimum cross-sectional area of the water passage provided by said chamber being at least substantially equal to the combined area oi the water passages of either one of said sections.

5'. An air heating and circulating device for attachment to an interior surface of a motor vehicle body and comprising an air heating element spaced from said surface, an impeller for circulating air from the space between the heating element and said surface through the air heating element and about in the vehicle body, an electric motor tor operating said impeller, said motor being disposed within the confines of the air heating element, and an electric circuit for actuating said motor, including a thermostatic circuit breaker mounted upon said motor and disposed in said space for opening the circuit when the air in the vehicle body becomes heated to a predetermined de ree,

JOSEH ASKIN. 

